Vending apparatus



(No Moae1.) 2 sheetssheet 1. J. D. GRAY. VBNDING APPARATUS. No. 462,253. Patented Nov. 3, 1891 lluvil M W (No Model.) sheets-sheen 2. J. D. GRAY.

VBNDING APPARATUS.

No. 462,253. Patented Nov. 3, 1891.

o parts in dotted lines.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES D. GRAY, OF ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF 'lIIREE-FOURTHS TO GEORGE A. SAVYER AND JAMES MCOONNELL, BOTI-I OF IVASHING- TON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

VEN DING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,253, dated November 3, 1891.

Application tiled January 15, 1891. Serial No. 377,854. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs D. GRAY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Arlington, in the county of Alexandria 5 and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Vendin g Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

ro This invention pertains to an improved vending apparatus, relating more especially to the class having coin-controlled mechanism.

The object of the invention is to provide simple and highly-efticient mechanism for the sale or vending of postage-stamps.

A further object is the production ot' an improved twopart coin holder or receiver capable of being automatically operated to permit the coin to drop at each operation of the zo apparatus.

The invention comprises a coin-controlled stop-lever having a laterally-movable springjaw, a cam for moving said stop-lever, and a stationary arm for forcing said jaw outward to cause the coin to be freed from said stoplever. M

The invention further comprises a coincontrolled stop-lever and an operating-cam having stops or shoulders, and guiding-arms 3o for drawing said lever into engagement with said stops or shoulders.

The invention further comprises a coincontrolled stop-lever having a springj aw and an operating-cam having stops or shoulders,

3 5 guiding-arms for drawing said lever into engagement with said stops or shoulders, and a stationary armfor forcing said spring-jaw to one side, said jaw being forced into contact with said arm by said cam.

4o The invention further comprises the detail construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in perspective of the inclosing box or casing. Fig. 2 is a plan view with the top or cover removed. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line :t Fig. 2, showing Fig. 4t is a detail perspective view of the coin-controlled stop-lever. Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively front and end views of the tension-rolls and their supporting posts or standards. l

Referring to the drawings, A designates the box or inclosing casing, preferably formed in two sections ct a, secured together by hinges a2 and held, when closed,by a lock as. An opening a4 is formed in the front wall of the box, through which the postage-stamps 6o are ejected, and above said opening is asightopening a5. In the top of said box is secured the widened end of a chute a6, into which a coin is designed to be placed.

B B are two rolls mounted in rear of the exit-opening` c4. Between these rolls the stamps are designed to pass, said stamps being preferably arranged in twos or pairs. Upon one end of the lower roll B is secured a small pinion Z9, which gears with a second 7o pinion b on the end of the upper roll B. This latter roll is adjustable by means of followers bz, resting upon its ends and moving in slots of posts or standards b3, secured to base-plate C. Upon the upper ends of fol- 75 lowers b2 are rubber strips b4, upon which bear the lower ends of screws h5,`working in holes or apertures ot' posts4 or standards b3. By this means the rolls can be held at any desired tension. 8o

D is a gear-wheel secured upon one end of thelower roll B, and it engages a similar gearwheel d, fast upon an operating shaft F, mounted at its inner end on an olset d3 of one of the posts b3, said shaft being also sup- 8 5 ported by a short post d2, secured to plate C. Adjacent to wheel (Z is a ratchet-wheel f, with which engages a pawl f2, secured to plate C.

G is a cam-wheel secured fast upon shaft F, and the same is provided with two dia- 9o shoulder of the vcam-wheel, the latter being held from binding against the end of said stop-lever. To the outer face of this camwheel G are secured the inner ends of guiding-arms E E, which are attached to said cam-wheel at a point near the stops or shoulders. These arms extend outwardly from cam-wheel G a short distance, and are then bent at right angles parallel with the face of said cam-wheel, then again bent inwardly toward the wheel, and they are then extended outward parallel with the periphery of the cam-wheel, their free ends being adjacent to the enlargements g2. j

H is a stop-lever fulcrumed by a stud h on a post Orstandard h', and to one end thereof is secured a pin h2, said end of the lever being normally in engagement with the camwheel G. `The other end of this lever is bent or curved to form a stationary'jawz' of a holding or receiving end I, the other jaw z" being pivoted at 2 to lever H. In these jaws -are formed opposite groovesor recesses 3, slightly widened at their upper ends, so as to direct a coin in its passage. A rod 4 is located between these jaws to limit their inward movement, its reduced ends being projected through coincident holes or apertures in said jaws. A spiral spring J, encircling rod 4 and secured at its ends to the jaws, serves to hold them in their contracted position for the reception of a coin, which is dropped into the grooves 3 through the chutev a6. j Astop-pin 77.5 of post h limits the downward movement of this lever.

K is a stationary arm rigidly secured at its lower end, and its upper wedge-like end-k is projected up into or near jaw I. By depressing the outer end of the stop-lever its movable or pivoted jaw will come in contact with the upper wedge-shaped end of the arm K, resulting in forcing said jaw outward, causing the coin held between the jaws to drop on' the bottom of the box or casing, said jaw being instantly returned to its normal position u'nder the action of spring J.

To the outer end of the operating-shaft F is secured a winged handle L, by which said shaft can be turned by the hand of the operator.

. The operation of my invention is as follows: The machine is first supplied with the desired number of stamps, and the outer end of the line of stamps is passed between the rolls B B', beyond which they protrude but a short distance.- Upon dropping the proper coin into the chute the same will fall into the grooves or' the jaws of the stop-lever, and by reason ot' its weight and momentum will cause the tilting of said lever and the disengagement of the forward end thereof from contact with the adjoining shoulder on the camwheel. The mechanism being thus freed, the operating-shaft is turned by the operator moving the handle L in the direction of the arrow 0, which will impart motion to the rolls and force the stamp or stamps held therebe- `lution without depositing a second coin.

tween out through the front opening a4, when they can be separated from the line of stamps by pulling, the separation occurring at the scored meeting points immediately adjacent the rolls. When the cam is turned in the direction of arrow z, the attened portion g adjacent the shoulder from which the stoplever was freed first comes in contact with the end of said lever. Then the enlargement g2 forces said end of the lever upward, causing its cam-receiving end to be lowered and the spring-jaw to bear directly against the upper end of arm K. This results in the moving outward of the spring-jaw and the freeing of the coin. h2 of lever H is engaged by one of the guidingarms E, which draws this end of the lever downward against the periphery'of the same and into engagement with the other stop or shoulder. As the end of the lever strikes against the latter stop or shoulder the pin h2 is freed from engagement or contact with the guiding-arm. Hence by the means described As' this is accomplished the pin a positive action is secured, and it is impossible to give the cam more than a partial revothe time the stop-lever is in engagement with the other or second shoulder on the "camwheel the stamps are forced through the opening.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a coin-controlled vending apparatus, the cam-wheel and the stop-lever having a positive engagement therewith at one end and having coin-receiving jaws at its ether end, one of said jaws being laterally movable, as set forth.

2.-In a coin-controlled vending apparatus, the cam-wheel and the stop-lever engaging therewith at one end and having a laterallymovable jaw pivotally connected thereto 'at its other end for holding a coin, as set forth.

3. In a in-controlled vending apparatus, the cam-w "del, the stop-'lever engaging therewith at one end, and the laterally=inovable spring-held jaw at therother end of said lever, as set forth.

4. In a coin-controlled vending apparatus, the cam-wheel, the stop-lever engaging therewith at one end and having its other end formed into a jaw, lthe movable jaw secured to said lever, the spring interposed between said jaws, and/the cross-rod, as set forth.

5. In a coin-controlled vending apparatus, a two-part coin holder or receiver having a movable spring-held jaw capable of being operated at each operation of the apparatus and having opposite correspondin g grooves or recesses, as set forth.

6. In a coin-controlled vending apparatus, the cam-wheel, the stop-lever engaging therewith at one end and having its other end formed into a jaw, a laterally-'movable jaw secured to said lever, and the stationary arm for forcing said latter 4jaw outward, its upper end being projected between said jaws, substantially as set forth.

IOO

IIO

7. In a coin-controlled vending apparatus, the ca1n-wheel, the stop-lever engaging therewith at one end and having two coin-receivin g jaws at its other end, one of said jaws being movable, the spring connected to and located between said jaws, and the stationary arm for moving said movable jaw outward, as set forth.

S. In a coin-controlled vending apparatus, the cam-Wheel, the stop-lever engaging therewith at one end and having two coin-receiving jaws at its other end and provided with opposite grooves or recesses, one of said jaws being movable, the spring connected to said jaws, the cross-rod between said jaws, and the stationary arm for moving said movable jaw outward, as set forth.

9. In a coin-controlled vending apparatus, the cam-wheel having a stop or shoulder on its periphery, the guiding-arm projecting from said cam-wheel, and the stop-lever normally in contact with said periphery and with which said guiding-arm engages, substantially as set forth.

10. In a coin-controlled vending apparatus, the cam-wheel having a stop or shoulder, the guiding-arm projecting from said cam-wheel, and the stop-lever having a pin at one end and coin-receivin g jaws at the other, substantially as set forth, said stop-lever being moved by said guiding-arm engaging said pin, as stated.

ll. In a coin-controlled vending apparatus, the cam-wheel having stops or shoulders on its periphery and fiattened and enlarged portions, the guiding-arms having free ends and projected parallel to said cam-wheel, the stoplever having a pin at one end, with which said guiding-arms engage, the coin-receiving jaws at the other end of said stop-lever, and the stationary arm, with which one of said jaws engages and by which it is forced outward, substantially as set forth.

l2. In a coincontrolled vending apparatus,

the combination of the cam-wheel, the shaft having a handle, the gear-wheel secured on said shaft, the stop-lever having one end normally in contact with said cani-wheel, its other vend having coin-receiving jaws, the ratchetwheel also secured on said shaft, the pawl engaging therewith, and the stationary arm and the rolls, one of which has a gear-wheel engaging said former gear-wheel, substantiallyas set forth.

13. The herein described improved coincontrolled vending apparatus, comprising the 5 5 boX or casing having an opening therein, the rolls having intermeshing pinions, the gearwheel secured to one of said rolls, the handled shaft having a gear-wheel engaging said former gear-wheel, the ratchet-wheel, the 6o pawl engaging therewith, the cam-wheel having two stops or shoulders, the guiding-arms, the pins or studs, the spring normally in engagement with one of said pins or studs, the stop-lever having one end normally in contact with said cam-wheel and having its other end bent to form a stationary jaw, the movable jaw, the spring secured to said jaws, the rod between said jaws, the pin secured to the forward end of said stop-lever, and the stationary arm having an upper wedge-shaped end, substantially as set forth.

14. In a coin-controlled vending apparatus, the combination, with the cam-wheels having pins or studs projecting from one side thereof, of the stop-lever designed to engage shoulders on said camwheels, and the spring designed to normally bear on one of said pins or studs and relieve said stop-lever from contact. with said shoulders, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES D. GRAY.

lVitnesses:

WM. S. HoDGEs, v J. NOTA MCGILL. 

